Centaur 2013 VZ70 : Saturn’s irregular moon population debris?. (arXiv:2110.04264v1 [astro-ph.EP])
<a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Marcos_C/0/1/0/all/0/1">C. de la Fuente Marcos</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Marcos_R/0/1/0/all/0/1">R. de la Fuente Marcos</a>
Context. Saturn has an excess of irregular moons. This is thought to be the
result of past collisional events. Debris produced during such episodes in the
neighborhood of a host planet may evolve into co-orbitals trapped into
quasi-satellite and/or horseshoe resonant states. A recently announced centaur,
2013 VZ70, follows an orbit that could be compatible with those of prograde
Saturn’s co-orbitals.
Aims. We perform an exploration of the short-term dynamical evolution of 2013
VZ70 to confirm or reject a co-orbital relationship with Saturn. A possible
connection with Saturn’s irregular moon population is also investigated.
Methods. We studied the evolution of 2013 VZ70 backward and forward in time
using N-body simulations, factoring the uncertainties into the calculations. We
computed the distribution of mutual nodal distances between this centaur and a
sample of moons.
Results. We confirm that 2013 VZ70 is currently trapped in a horseshoe
resonant state with respect to Saturn, but it is a transient co-orbital. We
also find that 2013 VZ70 may become a quasi-satellite of Saturn in the future
and that it may experience brief periods of capture as a temporary irregular
moon. This centaur might also pass relatively close to known irregular moons of
Saturn.
Conclusions. Although an origin in trans-Neptunian space is possible, the
hostile resonant environment characteristic of Saturn’s neighborhood favors a
scenario of in situ formation via impact, fragmentation, or tidal disruption as
2013 VZ70 can experience encounters with Saturn at very low relative velocity.
An analysis of its orbit within the context of those of the moons of Saturn
suggests that 2013 VZ70 could be related to the Inuit group. Also, the mutual
nodal distances of 2013 VZ70 and the moons Fornjot and Thrymr are below the 1st
percentile of the distribution.
Context. Saturn has an excess of irregular moons. This is thought to be the
result of past collisional events. Debris produced during such episodes in the
neighborhood of a host planet may evolve into co-orbitals trapped into
quasi-satellite and/or horseshoe resonant states. A recently announced centaur,
2013 VZ70, follows an orbit that could be compatible with those of prograde
Saturn’s co-orbitals.
Aims. We perform an exploration of the short-term dynamical evolution of 2013
VZ70 to confirm or reject a co-orbital relationship with Saturn. A possible
connection with Saturn’s irregular moon population is also investigated.
Methods. We studied the evolution of 2013 VZ70 backward and forward in time
using N-body simulations, factoring the uncertainties into the calculations. We
computed the distribution of mutual nodal distances between this centaur and a
sample of moons.
Results. We confirm that 2013 VZ70 is currently trapped in a horseshoe
resonant state with respect to Saturn, but it is a transient co-orbital. We
also find that 2013 VZ70 may become a quasi-satellite of Saturn in the future
and that it may experience brief periods of capture as a temporary irregular
moon. This centaur might also pass relatively close to known irregular moons of
Saturn.
Conclusions. Although an origin in trans-Neptunian space is possible, the
hostile resonant environment characteristic of Saturn’s neighborhood favors a
scenario of in situ formation via impact, fragmentation, or tidal disruption as
2013 VZ70 can experience encounters with Saturn at very low relative velocity.
An analysis of its orbit within the context of those of the moons of Saturn
suggests that 2013 VZ70 could be related to the Inuit group. Also, the mutual
nodal distances of 2013 VZ70 and the moons Fornjot and Thrymr are below the 1st
percentile of the distribution.
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